Improvement in water-wheels



UNITED STATES VPATENT OFFICE.

HENRY WNGER, OF FARMERSVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROVEM ENT IN WATER-WH EELSQ Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,855, dated July 18, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY WENGER, of Farmersville, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in the Construction of Horizontal Water Wheels or Motors; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specilication, in which- Figure 1 shows my arrangement within the large wooden penstock, with a portion of the two sides broken away for that purpose 5 Fig. 2, the shaft, with the central hub and buckets on its side removed from` its outer cover' or cylindrical case, A, which latter is affixed to the bottom of the penstock, as shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view or plan of the motorwheel K; Fig. 4, ihesalne as seen from beneath. Fig. 5 is a top or plan view ot' the chutes a and portions of the top of the circular case or box A and the disk or gate B, with its covering-projections b, one of which, b, is provided with cogs meshing into a cogged quadrant, C, on a vertical shaft, D, operated by a lever, F G, for closing or regulating the flow ot water into the chutes simultaneously; Fig. 6, a section ot' case.

llhe nature of my lnvention is to supplya water-motor of a class which have come into eX- tensive use so simplitied as greatly to reduce the cost without loss of power.

'Io enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will describe its construction and operation.

I construct my water-tight wooden penstook in the ordinary manner. In the bottom I, Fig. 1, I make a circular opening, into which the casing A, with its top and chutes a., is inserted centrally in said bottom. On thc top of the casing A, I have a circular disk, B,with extended ears or covers b for the chutes c. This disk, like the casing, has a central opening for the shaft L ot' the motor K, and is connectedv with the top ot' the casing A, Fig. 6, in a regulating-slot, s, and headed bolt, by which it is also made adjustable in centralizingitfor the shaft.

One 4of the valves or covers marked b is made to project beyond the casing, and is provided with cogs.

beneath in the cross-piece N. rIhe shaft and motor wheel, Fig. 2, show their connection. This motorK may have a central Wooden hub lirmly connected to the shaft, with a metallic ring surrounding it, with the buckets m on the vertical periphery ot' the said ring or hub K. I employ a series of eleven buckets so inclined as to bring the lower terminus of one in a line with the top of the third succeeding bucket, as shown by Fig. 2. Beneath is also shown a single bucket, (enlarged and elongated on a straight plane.)

The operation is readily understood. The water lying a dead Weight in the penstock, on opening the chutes the Water rushes in on the top of the casing and falls vertically onvthe upper part of' the buckets at six or more different points. Confined by the vertical edge of the casing, the entire gravitating force acts upon the buckets and is discharged beneath.

I am aware that various devices are employed in the construction of this class of Water-motors; but I am not aware of any arrangement and combination substantially the same.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The arrangement and combination o't` the water-wheel K, with its buckets m on its vertical periphery M within the Vertical casing A, chutes a on top, disk B, with its valves b, andcogged valve b', operated in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

HENRY WENGER.

Witnesses:

JOHN J. SANDERS, E. BURKHOLDER. 

